Astronomy Tower Sweethearts

Astronomy Tower Sweethearts

Ginny Weasley sighed deeply. The Gryffindor Common Room was packed, full, noisy. She couldn't concentrate on her Divination homework.

In the corner of the room, Harry Potter (her boyfriend), Ron Weasley (her older brother) and Hermione Granger (her best friend) were sat, chatting. They'd been best friends since they'd met on the Hogwarts Express. Ginny had fancied Harry for as long as she could remember. She could also remember the twinges of jealousy she would get when she saw him with Hermione.

She swept a hand through her long, red hair. Her brown eyes met Harry's green ones across the room. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

Ginny sighed again. Harry was now paying attention to the words of Ron, so she took this time to push her homework into her bag, gather her cloak up and thread her way through the packed common room to the entrance hole.

She pushed it open and stepped into the empty corridor. Filch would be prowling, she knew that - but her recent Prefect badge meant she was able to wander round the castle at night. So she hurried along the corridors. She knew her destination, she knew how quiet it would be at this time. She also knew how cold it would be, so she set her bag on the floor and flung her cloak round her shoulders, fastening it. She began to climb the staircase for the Astronomy Tower.

She reached the top of it, the rows of telescopes and the holes that were the "windows". All was peaceful. A pleasant breeze curled over the stones and through the windows.

She put her bag on the floor, and opened it. She settled herself on the cold floor, and began to do her homework. The new found peace made her work easily, quickly, confidently.

A lot of time passed. Her arm began to ache, her eyes stung, and her handwriting became an inky mess. She sighed, and put her work to one side. She walked to the largest window, the only one without telescopes. She rested her hand on the rough stone, and looked out at the dark sky. It had stars all over it, and a big shining moon hanging far above her. She guessed it was very, very late. She could not conceal a grin.

She leant further out of the window. The breeze brushed her face and tangled her hair. She closed her eyes and thought -

"Be careful, Ginny, you could fall..."

The voice was soft, a male voice. She knew it immediately, and made no move to stop leaning out of the window.

"Its beautiful out there," she told the man.

She leant backwards and felt some arms encircle her slim waist. He turned her round to face him.

Harry smiled down at his girlfriend, and she smiled up at him.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked.

"I just knew." He pulled her to him, and she hugged him tightly.

"I had to get out of that common room."

"I know." He smelt her scent and closed his eyes.

He leant down and kissed her, and she didn't pull away; they must have been locked in the embrace for only a few moments but...

But it seemed like an eternity.

They broke apart and he asked her, "I love you. Do you love me?"

She considered his question, considered her answer.

"Nothing lasts forever," she replied. "Not even love...but I think that there is something more powerful than love, that lasts forever. And that..."

He looked at her expectantly.

"Is what I feel for you."